Steinbach Pride returns with message of love and acceptance

Steinbach Pride returned Saturday to celebrate acceptance and equality, as hundreds gathered at K.R. Barkman Park to march in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.  

Leading with authenticity and education 

The event marked the eighth Steinbach Pride march, taking place 10 years after the organization was founded. 

The march was not held during the COVID-19 pandemic and was also cancelled last year. 

"We're here to spotlight love and love to the community,” says Chris Plett, president of Steinbach Pride. 

Chris Plett and Steinbach Pride board member Charli Champagne.

Plett says one of the most important roles Pride can play is challenging misinformation. 

“Fear, anger and hatred come from not understanding. It's about finding ways to educate them so that they understand,” he says. 

Plett says going forward Steinbach Pride wants to become more visible in the community and place a greater emphasis on education. 

Love thy neighbour 

The day began with speeches from Steinbach Pride members as well as a representative from Band of Colours.  

Representative from Band of Colours giving speech to attendees.

Among those attending was Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who spoke to the crowd before the march alongside several members of the NDP cabinet. Steinbach Pride also invited all members of Steinbach City Council, including Mayor Earl Funk, though none were present at Saturday’s event. 

“Somebody said that elected officials don’t come to Steinbach Pride, and I want you to know that anyone who said that is wrong,” says Kinew, noting he has attended the event several times. 

Kinew introduced several members of his cabinet, as well as Logan Oxenham, Manitoba's first openly transgender MLA. 

Premier Wab Kinew and members of the NDP cabinet Families Minister Nahani Fontaine, Advanced Education Minister Renée Cable, Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes, Education Minister Tracy Schmidt and Manitoba MLA Logan Oxenham and Deputy Premier and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara.

“I just want to say to all those young people, you may be picked on or bullied because people think that you’re the only queer person in the classroom or in the neighbourhood or in the community,” Kinew says. 

“I want you to know that is not true. Not only are you not alone, if somebody wants to say something about who you are or about who LGBTQ people are, tell them to go see the Premier of Manitoba.” 

Kinew also spoke about his relationship between faith and Pride, telling the crowd that people can be both religious and supportive of the queer community. 

“Love thy neighbor. It's all about love. Love is love, as they say,” Kinew says. 

Remembering Mica 

Kinew paid tribute to Mica Schellenberg, who he met while working on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues involving the Hanover School Division. 

Schellenberg passed away in September 2021. 

He says he hopes young people like Schellenberg feel loved, valued and respected across Manitoba. 

“Be proud of who you are. Stand strong in your identity.” 

He closed by encouraging Manitobans to stand together rather than divide. 

“Manitoba is a province of love, not a place of hate,” Kinew says. 

Marching for peace and unity 

Following speeches, attendees took part in the Pride march down Main Street before returning to the park for more celebrations. 

The afternoon concluded with drag performances, giving attendees an opportunity to celebrate Pride through music, entertainment and community. 

Following the march, Kinew reflected on his experience. 

“It’s great to see the open-minded nature of Steinbach and a lot of people coming out here to show support for one another — kids in particular,” Kinew says. 

Plett says Pride is about being your most authentic self and feeling like you belong. 

“You’re not an individual in a big open sea. Once you dip your head underneath the water, it’s a big colourful world down there, and there’s a lot of people just like you,” Plett says. 

He says Pride allows people to discover that they are not alone and can find community through shared experiences. 

“Sometimes it’s about hearing somebody’s story, and you realize that you find a little bit of yourself in that story.”